Date conflict could mean major fight for S.A.

Updated 12:02 am, Sunday, June 24, 2012

There's a promotional standoff playing out at the highest levels of boxing right now.

It's a scenario San Antonians will want to keep an eye on, as the fallout could result in a major fight for the Alamo City.

It might be a stretch, but it's not impossible.

The victory by Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. over Andy Lee last week in El Paso has paved the way for a highly anticipated showdown between the two men generally regarded as the top two middleweights in the world, Chavez and Sergio Martinez of Argentina.

Promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank Inc. has announced the fight will take place Sept. 15 — Mexican Independence Day — at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.

Two major promotions on the same night in the same city, featuring fighters — Chavez and Alvarez — who appeal to the same demographic.

If it happens, it would be bad business, bad for boxing and bad for fans.

It's a game of promotional chicken, and either Arum or De La Hoya has to blink.

Who does could wind up benefitting San Antonio.

The loser in the standoff will need a site for either Alvarez's bout or Chavez-Martinez. Alvarez was supposed to face Victor Ortiz, but he broke his jaw in a surprise loss to Josesito Lopez on Saturday. Lopez could be in line to take Ortiz's spot.

Either fight would be a huge draw here.

Regional promoter Lester Bedford, the site promoter for the Chavez fight in El Paso, said “the stars have to line up” for either bout to come to the Alamo City.

“In talking to Arum in El Paso, it seemed like he was leaning toward San Antonio,” Bedford said. “Bob loves it down there. He and his wife stay on the River Walk. I'm telling you he absolutely loves it.”

But Bedford said Arum received a call from Las Vegas casino tycoon Steve Wynn, who apparently made an offer Arum couldn't refuse.

HBO Pay-Per-View already has committed to Chavez-Martinez, leaving Showtime as the likely spot for Alvarez's bout. If De La Hoya wants HBO, he'll have to change the date.

Interestingly, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation web site lists Sept. 15 as reserved for San Antonio.

El Paso shines: Bedford labeled the Chavez-Lee card at the Sun Bowl a success, even though paid attendance was 13,497, well under projections.

Bedford said the cancellation of the event early in the promotion by the UT chancellor — the Sun Bowl is located on the UTEP campus — hurt ticket sales. The ban on beer sales at the stadium hurt even more.

He surmised a lot of people stayed home to watch the fight — as well as the Manny Pacquiao-Timothy Bradley replay — and drink beer.

“I think there were about 16,000-17,000 people in the stadium,” Bedford said. “There was a lot of energy in the crowd. For all the headaches, it ended up being a great night.”

He said a $500,000 sponsorship deal paid by the city to keep the fight helped the gate.